Question about billiary pancreatitis

[zergling8]

Hi everyone,

I have read that gallstone formation causes the obstruction of bile flow from gallbladder, then when the gallbladder and its duct contracts, the colic causes agonizing pain that radiates to right epigastrium.

And pancretitis is commonly believed to be caused by autodigestion and alcohol abuse, which the pancreatic enzymes are activated in pancreas rather than in intestine, therefore causes the digestion of pancreas.

could anyone explain to me how gallstones contribute to acute pancreatitis, what's the physiology of acute billiary pancreatitis????

Thank you

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Homework? Look at the anatomy of the bile ducts/common bile duct/biliary tree. What is blocked if a gallstone enters the biliary duct system?

[zergling8]

My friend was admitted recently due to billiary pancreatitis, just wondering how did it happen.

I read the textbook, it says the most common pathogenic mechanism is believed to be autodigestion of the pancreas. the aetiological factors cause injury to pancreatic cells or activation of the pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas rather than in the intestine. It is not clear how the activation of pancreatic enzyme occurs. one possible cause could be reflux of bile acids into the pancreatic ducts through an open or distended sphincter of oddi.

I have read the anatomy picture of the bile ducts/common bile duct/biliary tree. the cyctic duct or common bile duct might be obstructed if gallstone formated. But I just dont understand in the textbook how gallstones cause the reflux of bile acit into pancreas and cause pancreatitis.............

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

This may help....Gallstones and Bile Duct Stones | Pancreas & Biliary Tree | MUSC DDC